UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
 
                               -----------------
 
                                    FORM 8-K
 
                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 24, 2005
 
                               -----------------
 
                             Network Appliance, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
            Delaware                    0-27130                77-0307520
--------------------------------     -------------       ---------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)      File Number)        Identification Number)
 

                               495 East Java Drive
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 
                                 (408) 822-6000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 

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Item 2.02.
 
      On May 24, 2005, Network Appliance, Inc. issued a press release announcing
its earnings for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2005. The press release is
attached as an exhibit to this Form 8-K, and the information set forth therein
is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.02.

Item 9.01(c).


      Network Appliance, Inc.'s May 24, 2005 press release is hereby furnished
as Exhibit 9.01(c)(1) to this Form 8-K in connection with the disclosures under
Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K.



                                   SIGNATURES



      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


May 24, 2005                   By: /s/    Steven Gomo        
                               ------------------------------
                                          Steven J. Gomo
                                    Chief Financial Officer